Young deer getting active, drivers beware

New flowers and plants are growing in the Iowa woods — and so is a new crop of deer. Mick Klemesrud of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says that means there’s more chance you might see a deer cross your path on the roadway. Klemesrud says the does are having a new crop of fawns and to do that the deer are running off last year’s fawns which are now yearlings. He says the yearlings don’t have mom to help them avoid traffic anymore.

Klemesrud says late May to the middle of June is the second worst time of the year for car/deer collisions behind the fall mating season. Klemesrud says the young deer are unpredictable as they learn to survive on their own. Klemesrud says the deer are so young and inexperienced that you can’t depend on any type of behavior, as the deer may run in and out of traffic several times. He says you need to slow down in wooded areas near parks and rivers and be on the lookout for deer.

Klemesrud says there’s really nothing you can do to avoid deer other than remain alert. He says honking and flashing your lights does not make the deer run away, and he says the deer whistles don’t work either. Klemesrud says you should avoid the time between dawn and dusk if possible to avoid the deer.

He says if you find a deer in your headlights — stay on the road and don’t try to veer around the animal. Klemesrud says it’s better to hit the deer with your car than it is to veer away and roll your car and risk losing your life. Klemesrud says the young deer will become better at avoiding traffic as they get older, but you should still always be on the lookout in areas where deer may be present.